犬科（Canidae）,源自拉丁语 canis（"狗"）,意指该科的所有成员都是与狗有关的动物.

Canidae, from Latin canis (“dog”), in reference to the fact that all the members of this family are dog-related animals.

種的俗名 Common names of members

家犬,狼,狐狸,胡狼.

Domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals.

分佈 Distribution

除了没有澳大利亚本土物种及南极洲外,所有大洲都有分佈.

All continents except Australia with no native species and Antarctica.

體型 Size

牠们的体型从 24 公分长、600 克到 2 米长、79 公斤不等.

They vary in size from 24 cm long and 600 g to 2 m and 79 kg.

形態描述 Morphology

犬科动物的基本形态相似,灰狼（Canis lupus）就是一个例子,但不同种类的犬嘴部、四肢、耳朵和尾巴的相对长度差别很大.除了丛林犬、浣熊犬和一些家犬品种外,犬科动物的腿相对较长,身体比较轻盈,适合追逐猎物.牠们的尾巴很茂盛,皮毛的长度和质量随季节而变化.所有犬科动物都有脚趾（脚趾着地）,这意味着牠们用脚趾行走.鼻尖总是裸露在外,脚底的软垫也是如此.

They have a similar basic form, as exemplified by the gray wolf (Canis lupus), although the relative length of muzzle, limbs, ears, and tail vary considerably between species. With the exceptions of the bush dog, the raccoon dog and some domestic dog breeds, canids have relatively long legs and lithe bodies, adapted for chasing prey. The tails are bushy and the length and quality of the pelage vary with the season. All of them are digitigrade (stands with its toes on the ground), meaning they walk on their toes. The tip of the nose is always naked, as are the cushioned pads on the soles of the feet.

生態與棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

所有陆地栖息地：草原、森林、山地、沙漠等.

All terrestrial habitat: grassland, forest, mountain, desert, etc.

食性 Diet

虽然牠们都以肉食为主,但大多数都是杂食动物（吃大小脊椎动物、根茎蔬菜、浆果、水果等）,少数是限制性肉食动物（只吃大或小型脊椎动物和其尸体）.

Although all of them have a meat-based diet, most of them are omnivore (eating small and big vertebrates, root vegetables, berries, fruits etc), with a few restricted carnivores (eating only small and big vertebrates and dead animals).

繁殖 Reproduction 

大多数犬科动物每年繁殖一次.不同种类的犬科动物产仔数不同,从 4 到 20 只不等.新生儿在父母挖掘的洞穴中受到保护.雌雄都会为后代捕食.

Most canids reproduce once per year. The litter size varies among species ranging from 4 to 20 babies. The newborn are protected in a den which is dug by their parents. Both male and female will hunt food for the offspring.

已知的物種

Total species known

39

博物館收藏的物種

Species in the collection

2

在香港已知的物種

Species in Hong Kong

0

Reference

Mivart, G. J. (1890). Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes : a monograph of the Canidæ. R.H. Porter : Dulau.

Nowak, R. M. (2005). Walker's Carnivores of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press.